"Was it windy or cold that night?" Judge John Garavan inquired of a male student who was arrested by gardaí as he walked home, naked from the waist down.
James Keane (19), a native of Swinford, Co Mayo, and a second-year student at Galway MIT, had become the victim of a prank by his two friends around 4.30 a.m. on May 19th last year.
One had held him while the other pulled off his jeans and underpants.
Keane pleaded guilty at Galway District Court this week to exposing himself in a public place, in such a way as to offend modesty, cause scandal or injure the morals of the community.
The offences were contrary to Section 18 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1935, as amended by the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment Act, 1990. He also admitted being drunk in public and giving a false name at Galway Garda station.
Judge Garavan applied the Probation Act on the exposure charge and for giving a false name, while fining Keane €100 for being drunk in public.
Walls in open estates queried
A case which will decide whether people can erect walls and gates in open-plan housing estates will be heard next July.
Fingal Council is taking legal action against a couple who have erected gates and walls in a new housing estate in west Dublin, claiming they are in contravention of planning conditions.
The council requires Mr Stephen Stanley and Ms Anne O'Reilly to remove the boundary installations from their house at St Mochta's Lawn, Clonsilla, Dublin.
Dublin District Court heard yesterday that the case will have implications for several other householders in the estate where similar fences and gates have been put up.
Judge Mary Collins reserved July 7th for the hearing.
Lapdancing club awaits ruling
A lapdancing club where gardaí saw a patron groping a naked performer will know on April 26th if it can re-open.
The Barclay Club, South William Street, Dublin, lost its licence in a decision of the District Court last month.
An appeal against that decision was heard last week in the Circuit Court.
The Circuit Court is to give its ruling on April 26th.